Mass media in Sierra Leone

Mass media in Sierra Leone began when the first modern printing press in Africa arrived at the start of the 19th century. In the 1860s the country became a journalist hub for Africa with professional travelling to the country from across the continent. At the end of the 19th century the industry went into decline and when radio was introduced in the 1930s this became the primary communication media. Print media is not widely read in Sierra Leone, especially outside Freetown, partially due to the low levels of literacy in the country. In 2008 there were 15 daily newspapers in addition to those published weekly. Among newspaper readership young people are likely to read newspapers weekly and older people daily. The majority of newspapers are privately run and are often critical of the government.

The

The constitution of Sierra Leone guarantees

The first modern printing press in Africa arrived in Freetown in 1794 but was destroyed by a French raiding party before it could be used.^[1] When another press became operational in 1800 it allowed the newspapers the Sierra Leone Advertiser and the Royal Gazette to begin publication. The Royal Gazette and Sierra Leone Advertiser was published from 1817 to 1827. In the 1860s Sierra Leone developed into a hub of African journalism with professional from all over Africa employed by the country’s newspapers.^[1]

The media boom also had an international dimension with newspaper professionals from around the world settling in the country. For example, the New Era paper was set up by West Indian William Drake.^[2] The year 1855 saw the foundation of the African Interpreter and Advocate by F. A. Belgrave founded and of the Sierra Leone weekly by Charles Bannerman. In the period newspapers were politically outspoken covering topics including stories about racism, colonialism and the rights of Africans.^[1] The industry went into decline at the end of the 19th century due to low levels of sales, which were the main source of income for newspapers.^[2]

In 1934 the

Isaac Theophilus Akuna Wallace Johnson started the African Standard in 1939 the newspaper of Sierra Leone's branch of the West African Youth League.^[4] In the same year the Daily Mail began and was to become one of the longest running papers in the country and its leading paper closing from 1970 and early 1980s.^[2] It closed in the late 1990s but was revived on line in 2010 by three journalists, Leeroy Wilfred Kabs-Kanu, Ahmed Kamara and David Tam-Baryoh.^[5]

At the end of the 20th century the newspaper industry experienced a decline with more than 40 newspapers ceasing publication between 1991 and 2007. This was also the time when newspapers developed in terms of business management, and when

After the end of the Civil War newspapers are not a widely used medium, especially outside Freetown, with only 15 daily newspapers operating in Sierra Leone.^[2] As the country recovered the number of newspapers increased and there were 58 newspapers registered in 2010.^[7]

Most newspapers are privately run and often critical of the government. The number of people reading newspaper is affected by low levels of literacy in the country. This is a particularly important factor for some sections of society, as only about half of women and older people are literate and literacy levels are lower outside Freetown. Among newspaper readership older people are more likely to read a paper daily and younger people to read weekly. People also trust the information published in newspapers less than that found on the radio.^[6]

The standard of print journalism is generally low, with some journalists lacking the training and skills they need to write, edit and disseminate information effectively in print.^[8]

Books

Although Sierra Leone had a long history of publishing and consuming books, the civil war altered this position.^[9] In 1982 there were three publishers in Sierra Leone,^[10] but 2002 there were no book publishers in Sierra Leone and only one bookshop, a church bookshop for in Christian literary material. Books written by authors from Sierra Leone were still published but publishers from abroad, for example, Unanswered Cries by Osman Conteh won the 2002 Macmillan Writer's Prize for African Children's Literature award.^[9]

The Sierra Leone diaspora has written a high proportion of the books published from Sierra Leone authors, including

Radio is the most common and trusted media in Sierra Leone with 85% of population having access to the radio and 72% listening daily in 2007. The level of penetration of radio varies between districts, from 96% in the urban part of the

One of the most popular programmes is the soap opera Atunda Ayenda which is broadcast five days a week on 18 local stations.^[12] It is produced by Talking Drum Studios a company that was set up by Search for Common Ground, an international non-profit organization, to produce programmes aimed at using the media to address the problems in Sierra Leone left by the civil war by promoting peace and reconciliation.^[13] Another popular radio program is Golden Kids News a program produced by young journalists that allows children to discuss topics of interest to them.^[12]

Stations

All major cities in the country have their own

The UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) used to run the station UN Radio on FM frequency 103.0, this broadcast in languages including English, Krio, Temne, Limba and Mende. Content included news of UN activities and human rights information, as well as music and news. The station closed in 2011.

There are also FM relays of BBC World Service, in Freetown on frequency 94.5, Bo 94.5, Kenema 95.3 and Makeni, Radio France Internationale and Voice of America are available in Freetown.^[15]

List of radio stations

• SLBC - State radio(/TV) station, based in Freetown
• Capital Radio 104.9, 102.3, 103.3 - private station in Freetown, Bo, Kenema and Makeni
• Believer's Broadcasting Network (BBN) FM 93.0 - private station in Freetown
• Fountain Of Peace Radio (FOP) FM 89.6-Private radio in Moyamba
• Sky FM 106.6 - private station in Freetown
• Radio Democracy 98.1 - private station in Freetown
• Voice of the Handicapped - private-run radio station for disabled but attracts audience nationwide
• Children's Radio 103.0 in Freetown
• Radio Tombo 96.0 - private station in Freetown
• Radio Citizen 103.7 private station in Freetown
• Radio Freetown 90.6 private station in Freetown
• Kiss FM 104 - private station in Bo
• Radio New Song 97.5 - private station in Bo
• Eastern Radio 101.9 - private station in Kenema
• Radio Mankneh 95.1 - private station in Makeni
• Radio Gbaft 91.0 - private station in Kenema
• Koidu Radio Station private station in Koidu
• Bintumani 93.5 - private station in Kabala
• Radio Modcar 93.4 - private station in Moyamba
• Radio Moa 101.5 - private station in Kailahun
• Destiny Radio 94.1-private Christian station in Freetown
• Radio Kolenten 92.4 - private station in
  Kambia
• Radio Bontico 96.4 - private station in Bonthe
• Radio Universal 98.7 - private station in Freetown
• Cat Radio Barming 106.8 - community radio station in Madina Junction, Tonko Limba.
• Radio Maria Sierra Leone Freetown 90.9. Makeni 101.1. Bo 90.9. Kenema 90.7 Private station
• Radio Mount Aureol 107.3- private station in Freetown
• West Africa women and girls empowerment-S/L - private station in Freetown

International Radio

• BBC World Service FM relays in Freetown on 94.5 MHz, Bo on 94.5 MHz, Kenema on 95.3 MHz and Makeni
• RFI (Radio France International) FM relay in Freetown on 89.9 MHz

Television

There is one operational national television station broadcasting in Sierra Leone which covers the Western Area, Bo, Kenema and Makeni. Outside of these areas TV is not watched by a great many people because of the lack of electricity supply. The operational national terrestrial station is the state run the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) with coverage of Freetown (2 channels), Bo, Kenema and Makeni. Star TV provides a commercial television service for Freetown.

Private station ABC Television-Africa ceased operations several years ago. AIT of Nigeria launched a TV and radio service in 2012, but this was suspended early in 2013 after it attracted only 2 advertisers.

Commercial television in Sierra Leone has not been a viable business because of the relatively low population, low disposable income, poor access to electricity (though this is improving) and lack of large businesses with the budget for television advertising. State broadcaster SLBC does receive some income from commercial operations.

Internet

As of the end of 2013 there are approximately 2,000 business and high-end residential users of fixed Internet services in Sierra Leone and somewhere in the region of 10,000 users with Internet dongles provided by the mobile operators.[17] 3G Mobile Internet services are available throughout the country, though quality can be poor in the east. Businesses operating outside of Freetown generally have to rely on VSAT satellite services.

List of ISPs

• Afcom^[18]
• Africell (2G/3G)
• Orange (2G/3G)
• Atlas
• CeeDee
• Iptel
• Onlime^[19]
• Sierratel
• Smart

List of VSAT Providers

• Onlime^[19]

Censorship and control

Traditionally, media in Sierra Leone has enjoyed considerable freedom, with very little government interference. The government does effectively control the only free terrestrial television network since they provide the funding. In the distant past, society and members of the political elite imposed a strong control on what was produced with some subjects seen as taboo and violence was used by the political establishment against journalists. For example, Harry Yansaneh, the acting editor of For di People, died in 2005 of kidney failure from the injuries caused by an attack by people allegedly sent by a deputy in the ruling party.^[21][22]

International organisations also have media outlets in Sierra Leone.

In 2006 former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah committed to reforming the laws governing the press and media to create a freer system for journalist to work in.^[27]

Foreign media

Twenty-first century coverage of Sierra Leone in foreign media has focused on events connected with the country's civil war, diamond trade and more recently the Ebola outbreak. Sierra Leone was the setting of the 2006

• Communications in Sierra Leone
• Internet censorship and surveillance in Sierra Leone

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